Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Ambergirl on December 16, 2019, 06:52:57 PM
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Hi Ladies,
Having a bit of a stress again. The discomfort I have had in my right side ( lower abdomen initially) is now in groin and across pubic area and down in vj. Had another set of blood tests - all fine. Was given an MRI which showed growths, not cancerous apparently, but was prescribed mini-pill to dry them up. I decided not to take that as at 53 it seemed odd to start taking the pill. Finding it hard to trust the GPs that all is okay. Too many horror stories.
Anyway, pain is still there and along with bloating which is making me feel horrible. Does anyone have any ideas as my GP now thinks I have just got to put up with the discomfort as she feels it is HA and has asked me to read some books to manage this. I do have another blood test to be done for pancreas and a scan booked for early January. I suffer from IBS and the Gastro consultant said I should take Buscopan but that has been linked to dementia so I am not keen. I am now 6 months period free so must be getting along the meno journey. Any advice as to how I manage all this? Feeling super grumpy and don't want to take it out on the husband over Christmas! :(
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Hi Amber,can I ask,as you say you suffer IBS,when you last went to the loo? I too was told I'd ibs many moons ago but now know I suffer slow transit and also have certain food intolerances,anyway,if the intestines are full or partly full,that can cause pain in the groin and bloating,as the distended intestine can push on nerves.
I've also suffered HA and know how awful it is,many a time,I've been sure the dr's have all got it wrong.
Anyway I also wouldn't take buscopan but the gastro specialist put me on mebeverine also known as colofac and it has helped me a lot with spasms,maybe worth a look?
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Hi Jaypo,
Thanks for the advice - I will look into the colofac. I do 'go' as I take laxido twice a day. I guess that with every day I have another area of pain that freaks me out (middle back pain today!) and sends HA into overdrive. I never was like this before being 50 and now it rears itself every so often. I will have the scan in January and hope that it all settles down eventually. :)
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Yes it will put your mind at rest,I've had so many tests that they ran out of tests ;D thing with HA is,you're worrying about one thing,then something else comes along and eventually you forget abou the original thing you were worrying about,it is difficult but try and think logically,have a look round the forum,it's what I did when I first joined and I guarantee you,every ache and pain you have someone on here will have had too
I get suspicious when a dr diagnoses ibs as it's a very sweeping broad spectrum of symptoms,your gut goes into spasm or your constipated,bloating etc but the question is.....why? I discovered via blood test that I'm wheat intolerant along with nuts,since cutting them out of my diet,I can't believe the difference,maybe keep a food diary for a month or two then look back at it and see when you had pains?good luck :)
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Why not take the mini-pill if it shrinks the growths :-\. Unless you give them a try followed by another scan to see if there is a result, you won't know and after all, some drugs are designed to treat problems other than what they are designed for! Were you told how long you might need to take it ?
Surely quality of Life should be uppermost in your mind, not whether a medication might give you dementia or cause cancer :-\. We are lucky to have access to health care with advice. You might get a better quality of Life is you take the medication. Where did you find out that 'buscopan' might be linked? It didn't do any harm to my dog! I rarely think about what might be, if a medication eases immediate symptoms then I will have to take less in the long term. Once I feel better I stop worrying and get on.
I have slow transit. Due to being anorexic since the age of 3. It can rule my whole day :-\ fortunately I rarely get pain with IBS. When I do I have to dash :o. But oh the need to go B4 we are out and about but the bowel often doesn't play ball >:( Then I worry that I will need a loo when we are away from the house. Very often I am OK but it's in the back of my mind.
I would have a break of several months between bleeds, then when least expecting it, a period would arrive >:(. Then it would go back to cyclic. Then another gap. One has to continue with birth control until 1 has been period free for 12+ months!
You should not be taking a laxative regularly unless told to do so by a Consultant. That will make the bowel lazy ........ and can cause more problems long term than it might ease. For example, if the bowel is slow and a laxative helps but the body empties quickly: the gap between the next movement may cause a pocket of wind. Then pain relief is required and the cycle continues.
Maybe make a list of what you eat for the next 3 days and review. Also note when you eat and drink to see if there are gaps which again, may cause a build up of wind.
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Yep, I agree re laxatives,they make me worse and give me more pain,although /colofac is just a relaxant :)
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Thanks for your comments both. I have taken laxido for about 5 years as otherwise I get terrible faecal impaction. Been like it since I was little. My gp said it's fine to keep taking it long-term. With the mini-pill I was more worried about the side effects of going onto it than the discomfort of the abdomen. I am about 2-2.5 stone overweight and although my blood pressure is okay I did not want to risk the possibility of the pill raising it.
I will look at the food diary and see what makes it worse. Work at the moment is crazy busy so that is probably not helping!
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Start with a good breakfast. This encourages the gut to get moving after a fast. Drink enough. Exercise when possible. If possible batch cook and freeze small portions to have quickly so that once home, you don't grab 'fast food'. Cornish pasties: mince with veg.: curry etc. freeze well and defrost easily in the microwave. Decide what you enjoy eating that you could take to work as a snack, i.e. fruits, nuts ......... do you have a specific time when the energy dips? It was about 3.45 p.m. when I was working :-\
Lots of fresh salads although I get fed up with bananas if they are mealy :-X. I think lettuce a complete waste of time, even for rabbits ;). I do find greasy foods occasionally will move the bowel :o. Also if I stop all meds for 24 hours, that will trigger evacuation.
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hi amber girl
i suffer too with slow transit constipation lazy bowel and ibs
i have to take regular laxitives by way of ducolax as laxido work by softening the bowel and my issue is not the poop being hard but i cannot empty often enough so i have to use something to stimulate my bowel x i have an excellent south african collerectal consultant who has assured me that some women have to remain on laxitives the rest of there life , because the bowel becomes lazy and fecal impact ion is very dangerous you can end up vomiting your own 💩 i've been on them 2 yrs but i also have to follow a low fod map diet gluten free and wheat free because al this clogs me up and causes pain bloating and not being able to go despite using laxitives i have to watch again the amount of soluble fibre i have because again works against me so i aim for insoluble fibres x